Food additives are chemicals that are added to food in small quantities for specific purposes. Food additives are used for specific purposes such as to preserve food, to make food taste better and to add colour to food so that the food will look more attractive. There are two main groups of food additive.
Preservative are chemicals that are added to food to preventing growth of microorganisms so that the food can be keep for a longer time.
Food acidulant ;
Benzoic acid & sodium benzoate – used to preserve sauces sush as tomato sauce and chili sauce.
Sodium nitrate – used to preserve canned food, meat, cheese and dried fish
Sodium nitrite – used to keep the natural colour of food such as meat to make it look fresh.
Sulphur dioxide – used to prevent browning of fruit juices
Sodium sulphite – used to keep the natural colour of vegetables.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are used on foods that are easily oxidized especially food contain oils and fats. When food are oxidized, a product which is volatile organic compound with a strong smell and odour.
Adding antioxidants to food will prevent the oxidation of fats and oil in the food from occuring so that food can keep longer. Antioxidants are added to foods such as sausages, biscuits, and fried foods.
Flavouring agents
Flavouring agents
Flavor enhance are chemical such as monosodium glutamate that are added to food in order to enhance the taste of the food. Artificial flavouring agents such as vanilla and peppermint which give a particular flavours to the food.
Stabilizer are chemicals that are added to food with the purpose of making the food stable
Food acidulants
Food additives are chemicals that are added to food in small quantities for specific purposes. Food additives are used for specific purposes such as to preserve food, to make food taste better and to add colour to food so that the food will look more attractive. There are two main groups of food additive.
General functions
Preservative
Preservatives prevent or inhibit spoilage of food due to fungi, bacteria and other microorganisms.
Preservative are chemicals that are added to food to preventing growth of microorganisms so that the food can be keep for a longer time.
Food acidulant ;
Benzoic acid & sodium benzoate – used to preserve sauces sush as tomato sauce and chili sauce.
Sodium nitrate – used to preserve canned food, meat, cheese and dried fish
Sodium nitrite – used to keep the natural colour of food such as meat to make it look fresh.
Sulphur dioxide – used to prevent browning of fruit juices
Sodium sulphite – used to keep the natural colour of vegetables.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are used on foods that are easily oxidized especially food contain oils and fats. When food are oxidized, a product which is volatile organic compound with a strong smell and odour.
Adding antioxidants to food will prevent the oxidation of fats and oil in the food from occuring so that food can keep longer. Antioxidants are added to foods such as sausages, biscuits, and fried foods.
Flavouring agents
Flavouring agents
Flavor enhance are chemical such as monosodium glutamate that are added to food in order to enhance the taste of the food. Artificial flavouring agents such as vanilla and peppermint which give a particular flavours to the food.
Stabilizer are chemicals that are added to food with the purpose of making the food stable